1. PURPOSE.

This Advisory Circular (AC) provides information and guidance to potential training
device manufacturers and aviation training consumers concerning a means, acceptable to the Administrator,
by which personal computer-based aviation training devices (PCATD) may be qualified and approved for
flight training toward satisfying the instrument rating training under the provisions of Title 14 of the Code
of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) parts 61 and 141. While these guidelines are not mandatory, they are
derived from extensive Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and industry experience in determining
compliance with the pertinent parts of 14 CFR. Mandatory terms used in this AC such as "shall" and
"must" are used only in the sense of ensuring applicability of this method of compliance. PCATD's are
distinct from flight training devices (FTD) qualified under AC 120-45, Airplane Flight Training Device
Qualification, and flight simulators qualified under AC 120-40, Airplane Simulator Qualification. It also
provides acceptable criteria under which the airplane or FTD flight-hour training time required for an
instrument rating may be reduced by using PCATD's that have been determined to meet acceptable FAA
standards. This AC details only one means of determining the acceptability of such devices for use in
instrument training curricula.

2. RELATED 14 CFR SECTIONS.

Sections of the regulations related to the information in this AC are
in parts 61 and 141.

3.DEFINITIONS.

a. PCATD.
A device which:

Meets or exceeds the criteria shown in Appendix 1.

Functionally provides a training platform for at least the procedural aspects of flight relating to
an instrument training curriculum.

Has been qualified by the FAA.

b. Qualification Guide.
Design criteria to assist in the evaluation and qualification process for
PCATD's. A Qualification Guide is included in Appendix 1.

4.BACKGROUND

During the past several years, there has been significant development in training aid
and training device technology. This includes the development of aviation-related computer hardware and
software applications. There is considerable interest in making use of new technology which may provide
increased training capability at decreased cost. This AC reflects the FAA's objective to formally recognize
the potential of aviation training devices for use in general aviation instrument flight training.

a. Flight Task Procedural Skills.

Flight task procedural skills have traditionally been trained almost
exclusively during in-flight training. Ground training has been used to impart required aeronautical
knowledge. Recent studies, however, have suggested that procedural understanding of instrument flight
tasks can be taught during ground training using devices such as those described in this AC. Two of the
most recent studies were conducted by the Embry Riddle Aeronautical University and the University of
Illinois.

b. Evaluations of PCATD's and Associated Aviation Training Software.

The FAA has evaluated
several computer hardware and software applications at the request of manufacturers and potential users.
These evaluations were conducted to determine whether certification or airman recency of experience
requirements reasonably could be met using such devices under applicable provisions of part 61 or
part 141. A study conducted by the University of Illinois, titled "Transfer of Training Effectiveness of
Personal Computer-Based Aviation Training Devices: Final Report", dated October 1996, examined each
task addressed in this AC. The director of the study affirmed that all instrument training tasks allowed by
this AC have a positive transfer effectiveness, or no statistically-significant negative transfer effectiveness.
Given this background, the FAA has determined that there is sufficient justification to allow the use of
PCATD's meeting acceptable standards as creditable devices for meeting some of the training requirements
for an instrument rating under the applicable provisions of part 61 or part 141.

5. AUTHORIZED USE.

a. Instruction by an Authorized Instructor.

Qualified PCATD's may be highly beneficial when used
under the guidance of an authorized instructor to achieve learning in certain procedural tasks such as area
departures and arrivals, navigational aid tracking, holding pattern entries, instrument approaches, and
missed approach procedures. Accordingly, the FAA has determined to continue the policy that any time
instruction is to be used to log time toward meeting any requirement of the regulations, an authorized
instructor must have presented the instruction.

b. Reducing Flight Hours Through Ground Training.

This AC provides for some training time on
PCATD's meeting acceptable FAA standards to be used to reduce the total flight hour that otherwise would
have to be accomplished in an aircraft or a flight training device to meet the requirement for an instrument
rating under part 61 or part 141. PCATD's determined to meet the criteria established by this AC may be
used in lieu of, and for not more than, 10 hours of time that ordinarily may be acquired in a flight simulator
or flight training device authorized for use under part 61 or part 141. However, the FAA has not
authorized the use of PCATD's for conducting practical tests nor for accomplishing recency of experience
requirements.

6. GUIDELINES FOR QUALIFICATION OF PCATD'S.

a. One qualification is required
for each model of PCATD. Normally, the qualification will be
obtained by the manufacturer. It will be valid for all serial numbers of that model, provided that no value
for a criterion in Appendix 1 is changed.

b. Should a PCATD be modified in any manner, a revised Qualification Guide must be submitted to
the FAA, accompanied by a request for qualification as modified, as described in paragraph 6d below.

c. Qualified PCATD's may be used by part 61 schools
without further approval, and should be used
in accordance with the guidance provided in paragraph 7. Qualified PCATD's may be approved for use in
a part 141 pilot school as outlined in paragraph 8.

d. To request qualification of a PCATD, manufacturers should send a request for qualification to the
General Aviation and Commercial Division, Airman Certification Branch, AFS-840, 800 Independence
Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20591. The request for qualification must include a qualification guide
stating a value for each item in Appendix 1. Each value must meet or exceed the minimum value stated in
Appendix 1. The request for qualification should be submitted at least 60 days before any training using
the PCATD involved is scheduled to commence. This time frame is necessary to permit the FAA to
properly review and evaluate the PCATD. Upon finding the PCATD acceptable, the FAA will approve the
qualification guide and return it to the manufacturer. The manufacturer must ensure that the PCATD
meets the criteria stated in the qualification guide. The PCATD may be evaluated at the manufacturer's
facility or at another site that may be mutually agreeable to the manufacturer and the FAA.

7. ACCEPTABILITY OF PCATD's FOR USE UNDER PART 61

a. To be acceptable for use in part 61, a PCATD must:

Be capable of providing training in all elements for which it will be used. Those elements
should be specified in a curriculum.

Meet the description and criteria established in this AC.

b. The PCATD should be used in a curriculum which will provide for:

A scope and content which should be in general compliance with part 141.

Not more than 10 hours of flight instruction in a PCATD in lieu of 10 of the 20 hours of flight
instruction allowed for a flight simulator or FTD. The 20-hour allowance for a flight simulator or an FTD
and the 10-hour allowance for PCATD's are not additive. If a PCATD is used for the maximum of
10 hours, that 10 hours shall be a part of the 20-hour maximum allowance for a flight simulator or flight
training device.

Instructional materials for flight events.

An outline of stage (phase) checks and criterion levels of performance.

8.APPROVAL OF PCATD's FOR USE UNDER PART 141.

a. To be approved for use under the provisions of part 141, a PCATD must:

Meet the description and the criteria established in this AC.
Be capable of providing training in all elements in which it will be used, as specified in the
syllabus.

Be used for not more than 10 hours of flight instruction time in lieu of 10 hours of the flight
instruction time in a flight simulator or flight training device time allowed by part 141. The 10-hour
allowance for use of a PCATD and the 15-hour allowance for flight simulator or flight training device
under the provisions of part 141 are not additive. If a PCATD is used for the maximum of 10 hours, that
10 hours shall be a part of the 15-hour maximum allowance for a flight simulator or FTD.

b. Local Flight Standards District Offices (FSDO) may approve qualified PCATD's during the
overall part 141 approval and certification process. The principal operations inspector for the part 141
school is responsible for approving how the PCATD is to be used in the certificate holder's part 141
curriculum. It is not the intent of the FAA to require each user to seek individual PCATD qualification
from the jurisdictional FSDO.

9. REPORTING PCATD TRAINING DATA

While there is no requirement to do so, annually, during
the anniversary month of FAA qualification or approval of a PCATD, as applicable, pilot schools and
other persons utilizing PCATD's under parts 61 or 141 in accordance with this AC in an instrument rating
curriculum are requested to provide the General Aviation and Commercial Division with the information
shown below. This information will be used to validate the permissible use of PCATD's and to determine
whether additional permissible use or regulatory amendment to provide for such use is warranted. The
information provided should be sent to the address shown in paragraph 6d. The report should contain:

a. The name and address
of the individual, organization, and pilot school certificate number (if applicable) providing the training;

b. The number of persons enrolled
in the instrument rating course in which the PCATD is used;

c. The number of flight hours
each graduate required to satisfactorily complete the course of
training;

d. The number of graduates who passed
the instrument rating practical test the first time; and

e. Any other information
deemed helpful in determining the level of effectiveness of the devices used
as authorized under the provisions of this AC; e.g., the portion of the curriculum attributable to the
PCATD used, the grading scheme used, and how the instructional management of training using the
simulation device differs from that using an aircraft.

10. REQUEST FOR INFORMATION

Requests for additional information or guidance about using
training devices should be directed to AFS-840 at (202) 267-8196.